Australia Weather News

9 months 7 days ago

By Anne Kruger and staff

There are reports of break-ins and an assault in flood-ravaged Ingham in north Queensland, as at least a third of the state's local government areas are impacted by floods, with the damage bill to reach "in the millions".

About 90 per cent of homes have been impacted in the northern town of Ingham, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Sunday.

Flooding in the Herbert River also affected nearby towns such as Halifax, but the river level is falling slowly.

Police said two offenders broke into a house in Ingham and allegedly assaulted a 57-year-old man with a baseball bat.

Acting Police Inspector Scott Warwick said a sporting goods store on the main street of Ingham was also broken into on Friday night.

"Forced entry was made to that premises and two baseball bats were stolen," he said.

"A short time later in Warren Street ... a 57-year-old man was the victim of an assault.

"Two offenders have entered his premises and he was allegedly assaulted with a baseball bat."

Acting Inspector Warwick said the offenders also stole car keys and a replica pistol.

"The offenders have then stolen the gentleman's vehicle — that vehicle was then driven into floodwaters where it stalled and abandoned by offenders," he said.

Toyota Ingham branch manager Adrian Redman said someone had stolen a car from his dealership and damaged it.

"For someone just to do this with no gain — if they stole the car and got somewhere or went somewhere it would be different, but they just [damaged] it," he said.

Mr Redman said an elderly couple had the car on order for a month.

"[The couple were] supposed to take the delivery on Friday but due to Friday's flood we obviously couldn't deliver it," he said.

"When we spoke to the client this morning her words were she felt violated and rightly so.

"She paid for the car, she was waiting for delivery and some ratbags have done this."

Damage 'in the millions'

Meanwhile, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) will conduct full assessments of council infrastructure and insurance assessors have already arrived on the ground to inspect public assets.

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said he expected to see significant damage to roads and bridges as waters subsided.

"The damage [amount] is very, very, very difficult, but we're definitely looking in the millions — and lots thereof," Mr Crawford said.

He said most of the damage would be assessed once the floodwaters have receded.

"Bridges, culverts sewerage and water supplies, railway lines and the like —we want to make sure things are safe.

"Where we have been very, very lucky is we have not had the usual winds associated with normal storms that we get, so that has been a godsend," he said.